Focus session · practising an instrument · 45 min

A 45-minute block for practising an instrument, with distant traffic, when you want to finish something

A single 45-minute block for practising an instrument — slowly, with the metronome.

45:00

Press start. The timer keeps time so you do not have to look at a clock.

Notice the heaviest part of your body right now. Let it be heavy. Wanting to finish something is a better motivation than wanting to relax. This is a short one, so let's use the time properly.

1 Before you start

  • Dim the screen slightly. Bright screens make long sessions harder than they need to be.
  • Tell yourself the goal is time spent, not output produced.
  • Make sure your chair is at a height where your feet are flat on the floor.
  • Expect to want to stop at about the eight-minute mark. That is normal and it passes.
  • Decide what counts as done for this block. "Two pages" is better than "make progress".

2 While the timer runs

  • When you notice you have drifted, do not restart the block. Just come back and carry on counting from where the timer is.
  • If nothing is working, write badly on purpose for two minutes.
  • Notice the moment your hand moves toward your phone. That moment is the whole skill.
  • If you are suddenly sleepy, stand up for ten seconds and sit back down.

3 When it ends

  • Say the session is finished, out loud if you can. It marks the boundary.
  • Roll your shoulders and your neck before the next block.
  • Write one line about where to start next time. Future you will be grateful.

4What to put on

distant traffic — A low continuous wash from a road you are not on. Familiar and easy to stop hearing.

This page is a tool, not a course. Nothing is tracked, nothing is saved, and nobody is told whether you finished.